Since 1996 Baltic Circle project has promoted intercultural exchange, primarily in the Baltic Sea region. International Theatre Festival Baltic Circle, artist exchange, drama translations, international co-productions, European level cultural projects play important parts in the general plan. Baltic Circle festivals have been organized in Helsinki since year 2000, starting from 2007 annually. Festivals showcase the newest trends in contemporary theatre and serve as an important meeting place and networking platform for theatre professionals and audience. Baltic Circle International Theatre Festival is a project that develops together with its environment, and change is inherent to the nature of the festival. The dates of the next, 8th International Baltic Circle Theatre Festival are November 16-20, 2011.
Baltic Circle is created by a group of Finnish theatre professionals who share the desire of making artistically ambitious contemporary theatre, and thus, artistically ambitious contemporary theatre festivals. It is co-operating with all the most significant Northern and Eastern European theatre festivals, production centers and with many European culture institutes. In 2007 Baltic Circle reached the Nordic Council of Ministers’ Ars Baltica status. From 2007 Baltic Circle has also been a member of IETM, international network for contemporary performing arts (+400 members), and FIT – Festivals In Transition – network.
Baltic Circle has been the main and co-organizer in several EU projects and has been granted Finnish Theatre Union’s prize in 2001 and 2005. The main supporters of Baltic Circle are Q-teatteri, the City of Helsinki Cultural Office, The Ministry of Education and Culture in Finland, EU Culture Programme and Finnish Cultural Foundation.
